Blake ousted from Medibank International

James Blake of the USA plays against Michael Russell of the USA during Round 1 of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York on August 28, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

James Blake of the USA plays against Michael Russell of the USA during Round 1 of the U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in New York on August 28, 2007. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) | License Photo

SYDNEY, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion James Blake was ousted in straight sets Monday in the first round of the Medibank International tennis tournament in Sydney.

Blake entered the hard-court tournament seeded third and with the 2006 and 2007 Medibank titles to his credit but Fabrice Santoro eliminated Blake 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.